NASA and Harvard Clash Over Mysterious Comet—Is 3I/ATLAS an Alien Artifact?

A mysterious visitor called 3I/ATLAS has captured the attention of both scientists and conspiracy theorists. Discovered in July 2025 by NASA’s ATLAS program in Chile, 3I/ATLAS is an interstellar object, meaning it came from outside our solar system. This makes it only the third such object to be confirmed, after ‘Oumuamua in 2017 and Comet Borisov in 2019. What makes 3I/ATLAS unique is its strange path that could bring it close to Jupiter, leading some to wonder if it’s not just a natural comet.

A Harvard scientist, Avi Loeb, has proposed an exciting theory. He suggests that 3I/ATLAS might be an alien “mothership” that could release smaller probes or satellites when it gets close to Jupiter. In an article he published, Loeb pointed out strange changes in the object’s path that could mean intelligent design instead of just random cosmic forces. He believes that Jupiter’s gravity and its moons—full of water and other resources—could make it a perfect stopping point for aliens.

NASA has downplayed these ideas. In a press conference, NASA’s Amit Kshatriya said 3I/ATLAS is definitely a comet, and photos taken by the Lucy mission, which is heading to Jupiter’s asteroids, show a typical comet’s tail. However, social media is buzzing with Loeb’s theory, and some people are even speculating that probes might be dropped near Jupiter.

Looking deeper at the data, 3I/ATLAS shows unusual behavior that even skeptics find puzzling. Its path was expected to safely pass Earth in October 2025, but subtle changes have been noticed, possibly due to gas being released from the comet, a common trait of comets. Loeb believes the changes are too precise to be caused by just gas. He thinks the object might be using some kind of thrusters to adjust its course, hinting at alien technology.

Still, many scientists argue that similar behavior was seen with ‘Oumuamua and later explained as natural. For example, 3I/ATLAS has been found to have nickel vapor, suggesting it’s older than our solar system. This is interesting, but doesn’t necessarily point to alien tech.

Why would 3I/ATLAS head to Jupiter? The gas giant has 95 moons, some of which might have life or resources that could be useful for an interstellar mission. Loeb’s theory is that 3I/ATLAS could be a self-replicating probe, sending smaller devices to explore these resources. There are even some coincidences linking the object’s path to missions like NASA’s Europa Clipper, which is studying Jupiter’s moons.

The scientific community is divided. While many astronomers believe the comet’s behavior can be explained naturally, Loeb’s past work, like his book on ‘Oumuamua, gives his ideas weight. Public interest is high, with many people online debating whether the object might be alien. Loeb has called for more study to confirm or deny his theories, and NASA is considering getting a closer look at 3I/ATLAS with its Juno spacecraft.

If Loeb’s theory is correct, it would be huge news, showing proof of extraterrestrial life. Space agencies might speed up efforts to study objects like 3I/ATLAS using advanced telescopes. Even if it’s a natural comet, the object still provides valuable information about space and materials from other star systems.

As 3I/ATLAS approaches Jupiter, scientists will continue to watch it closely, hoping to answer the big question: is it a sign of alien technology, or just another comet with strange features? Either way, its journey reminds us that there’s still so much we don’t know about the universe around us.

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